“Hey, you all look young and inexperienced,” One of them said. “Why don’t you try to bite on one of the baby dungeons? I hear they really hold people’s hands in Dirage.”
Looking around, I realized these were all more experienced people, about the age of the Guild Master, and they had an air of exoerience about them. They were all large and imposing, including the women. Many had dozens of scars. Every single one of them carried a large backpack almost as big as themselves. Lightweight was actually an apt description because we weren’t carrying any packs or anything. All of our stuff was in storage rings, but I had a feeling if I said that, they’d definitely scoff at it.
There were three parties in all. One group possessed three people, one possessed five, and the last one was six like my own. At twenty people, the room was a bit crowded, but only a bit. The level of imposingness seemed to grow as their size shrank. The three-person party consisted of three muscular men, each about twice my size. The second group were all women, but they were also quite large. The final party consisted of more regular looking Adventurer types I might have seen in the Capital’s Adventuring Guild.
Those clustered on that side of the firepit consisted of only one woman and five guys. That seemed like a weird set up until I realized I was traveling as one guy and five girls. Could they be perhaps part of a fabled reverse harem? The guys in her party did all look attractive in a variety of different ways. I could pick out the bad boy, the boy scout, and the rogue easy enough. However, regardless of the group, they were definitely all looking down on us.
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The woman who appeared to be leading the party of five girls was quite pretty, and she didn’t seem to have any scars. She had a massive greatsword on her back that looked humongous. It was definitely impossible for me to pick up, but it looked like it fit her size. She leaned forward and gave me the kindest look of the fourteen of them.
“We’re just looking out for your best interest. A lot of people hear this dungeon doesn’t have enemies on the top five floors and become convinced that means it is simple. This dungeon isn’t so simple. It’ll tear up and eat newbies like you. Come back in a few years.”
“What she’s saying,” The leader of the three-person party and the first one who had spoken initially said. “Is that this place is for true dungeon divers. You can go play kissy kiss with your harem somewhere else.”
“Oi… is that a slight at me!” The leader of the six-person troop, a red-headed woman, stood up angrily.
She actually admitted she had a harem of guys. They were all glaring at the three-man team angrily. The man receiving those stares chuckled.
“Relax, Harem, it wasn’t intended to insult you, unless you’re taking a liking for another for your collection.”
“Hmph!” She crossed her arms and then looked over at me and bit her lip. “Although, you do have an innocent boy type I like. How about ditching the bitches and I’ll show you how deep my dungeon diving goes?”